Program Overview
Saint Louis University's Chemistry Ph.D. program offers specialized training in traditional and interdisciplinary chemistry fields, emphasized by intensive research that culminates in a dissertation. Students benefit from close faculty mentorship, small research group sizes, and access to advanced research facilities in areas like spectroscopy, electrochemistry, molecular software, and X-ray diffraction. The program prepares graduates for careers in academia, industry, government agencies, and postdoctoral research.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Saint Louis University's Chemistry Ph.D. program offers specializations in traditional areas like analytical, physical, organic, and inorganic chemistry, as well as cross-disciplinary fields like materials and biological chemistry. The program emphasizes intensive research culminating in a dissertation.
Program Highlights:
- Close mentoring relationships: Students benefit from close guidance from faculty.
- Small research group size: This allows for more individualized attention and collaboration.
- Opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary research: Students can explore research across various scientific disciplines.
Research Tools:
- Bruker 400 and 700 MHz NMR spectrometers
- Bruker-EMX EPR, UV-Vis, and FTIR spectrometers
- Research-grade spectrofluorometers
- GC-MS and LC-MS
- Electrochemical analyzers
- Gas chromatographs
- A scanning electron micrograph
- Computational facilities with modern molecular software
- A Bruker CCD X-ray diffractometer facility
Curriculum Overview:
- The Ph.D. in chemistry requires a minimum of 39 post-baccalaureate credits.
- At least 27 credits must be in coursework.
- 12 credits are dedicated to dissertation research.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities:
- Students are active in research areas of analytical, organic, physical, synthetic, materials, environmental, and biological chemistry.
- Research groups regularly publish in top-ranked journals and present at national and international conferences.
- Research is externally supported by organizations like the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Petroleum Research Fund, and American Heart Association.
Learning Outcomes:
- Graduates will demonstrate advanced-level knowledge in both synthesis and materials chemistry, and analytical and physical chemistry methods.
- Graduates will be proficient in using standard search tools and retrieval methods to obtain information about chemistry.
- Graduates will effectively communicate scientific findings from literature and original research in written publications and oral presentations.
- Graduates will acquire the necessary tools and theories to conduct advanced chemical research.
- Graduates will adhere to ethical and professional standards in chemistry.
Assessment:
- Research Progress Exam: Evaluates the student's progress in their research area.
- Written Comprehensive Exam: Assesses the student's understanding of core chemistry concepts.
- Oral Defense of Research Proposal: Demonstrates the student's ability to articulate their research plan.
- Public Oral Presentation: Presents research findings to a broader audience.
- Private Oral Examination: A final defense of the dissertation research.
Careers:
- Teaching: Doctoral graduates can pursue careers in academia.
- Postdoctoral Studies: Further research opportunities after graduation.
- Industry: Careers in pharmaceutical companies and other scientific industries.
- Government Agencies: Positions in organizations like the FDA.
Other:
- Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
- The program provides a roadmap for semester-by-semester study, assuming full-time enrollment.
- Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.
- Requirements, course availability, and sequencing are subject to change.
